Flexible file holder



Sept. 4, 1934. w, 1 BROWN 1,972,260

FLEXIBLE FILE HOLDER Filed Deo. 2l, 1931 INVENTOR Vl/Zlidm nl' ,B ro w71.

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Patented sept. 4.1934

Ywww UNiTEDsTArEs PAT-enr oserei-1 1,972,260 'FLEXIBLE FILE HOLDER A William J :"Brown, Detroit, Mich.

` Applieation December 21, 1931, serial No. 582,276 7 claims. V(ci. tsr-'80)'V rIv'his invention relates to file holders for supporting files andparticularly to a holder capable of bending or flexing the f1le to present a convex lor concave working face to facilitate .ling curved or uneven surfaces, such for example as Yautomobile fenders. i

An object of my invention is tojprovide a file holder of comparatively simple construction which is easy to` manipulate and' in which the operating mechanism for flexing orV bending the leis located Within one` of the handles'.

Another object of the invention is to providekv an operating handle in which the gripping portion of the handle remains at all times at a fixed Y angle with relation to the end of the file upon` which it is mounted, to provide a clearancefor the hand of the operator during use, whereby the entire working face or surface ofthe le may be used.

` In previous le holders of this general type it has often been diicult .to use the working surface of the file throughout its length. This is due, in part, to the fact that during flexing of the le'the angle of the handle changes or varies with relationrto the le, causing the operators hand to come into contact with the surface of the Work when attempting to use the full length of the le. Thisdisadvantage is overcome, however, by the present improvement.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is aside elevation, partly in section,Y

of the le holder of my invention;

Fig, 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the le flexed to presenta convex working surface; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2; l Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantiallyv along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Before explaining in detail the present rinvention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying-drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and v,of being practicedor carried out invariousw'ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed hereinis for the purpose of description and not ofY limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the file holder of my invention comprises a main handle member shown as a whole at 10, an outer handle member inthe form of a knobY 11, andan operating rod 12 connecting the two handle members, G0 said handle members being mounted' upon a file 13. The inner end of the file is fastened tothe flat end' of ythe body portion 16 by means of a bolt and nut 14, and the outer end of the 111e is secured to the handle member 11 by means of a screw or.bolt15. The-body portion 16 of -the handle 10 terminates in a hand grip 17 which is oifsettherefrom to provide .a clearance space for the .-workmans hand which remains constant regardless of the bowed condition of theV le 13. 7013 The gripping portion of the handle is tubular and is provided with a bore therethrough, the forl ward portion 18 of the bore being square in crosssection. Located within the bore 19 is a rotatable nut 20 having a rearwardly extending sleeve 75; portion '21 which projects beyond the handle portion 17 and supports an-externally knurled closure cap or member 22. The `cap is secured to the sleeve 21 by a set screw 23 so that these parts can be rotated together. A bushing 24 is located 80 within the bore 19 between the sleeve 21 and gripping, portion 1-7 .and is held in position by screwsv 25. The bushing 24 provides a bearing for the member 20. 'V'I'helatter is internally screw threaded to receive a screw member 26 having a 85 round head 27 slidable longitudinally in'the bore 18. Thus it will be seen that the operating mechanism for exing the file is located Within the handle 10.

As shown in Fig. 4 the inner end of the rod 12 is 90 connected within a slot in the head 27 by means of a pin 28, providing a flexible or pivotal connection between the screw 26 andthe inner end of the rod. As seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the outer` handle member- 11 is provided with a pair of ears 95 or projections 11a adapted to receive therebetween the outer end of the rod'12. This end of the rod is. held in place between the ears by a pivot pin 29. Y y When it is desired to flex Ythe file 13, that is to 100v say, to causev the file to present a longitudinally curved working face or surface as shown in Fig.

. 2, the cap 22 of thehandle is turned in one direction thereby turning the nut 20 and propelling the :threaded rod 26 longitudinally Within the handle. 105

It will be understood that this operation will result in bending the le either in the manner shown l in Fig. 2 or the reverse, depending upon which direction the cap is turned. It is to be noted that the-angular relation -of the handle grip 17 and 110 the plane of the inner end of the file remains the same during the operation of the fiexing mechanism. Y

It will be seen that sufficient clearance is provided at all times for the hand oi the operator due to the fixed relation between the gripping portion of the handle and the plane of the inner end of the file. It will also be seen that th'e present constructionpenables the operating mechanism to be housed within the handle, each change in contour of the file being produced by adjusting the outer end of the device relatively to the operating parts within the handle grip.

I claim: v l

l.' A file holder comprising spaced handle members, a file secured at opposite ends to said members, a rod pivotally connected at one end to a handle member, and means mounted within the other handle member and pivotally connected to Said rod for shifting the rod in an endwise direc'- tion. I v

2. A le holder `comprising ahand grip, a ile secured thereto at one end, a push and pull rod pivoted to the opposite end of the file, a screw device located within the hand grip and pivotedto said rod, and means for operating said device.

3. A file holder comprising a handgrip, a le secured thereto at one end, a push and pull rod pivoted to the opposite end of the lea screw device located within the hand grip and pivoted to said rod, said grip having a rotatable portion for operating said device.

4. A file holder comprising a hollow hand grip having an offset portion providing a. space for the hand, a le attached at one end to said offset portion in xed angular relation with said grip, a screw device within said grip, and an articulated connection between said device and the opposite end of the le and shiftable endwise upon rotating said screw device.

5. A le holder comprising a. support, a le secured at one end thereto, operating mechanism for flexing :the iile inoludinga device having a rectilinear movement Within the support and a rod connected to the opposite end of the le and lhaving an articulated connection with said device interiorly of the support.

6. A file holder comprising` a handgrip, a le secured thereto at one end,V a push and pull rod pivotedv to 'the opposite end of the file, a screw device located entirely within the hand grip and pvoted toisaid rod interiorly ofthe grip, said hand grip having a fixed portion and also a rotatable rportion cooperating with said screw device for shifting the same longitudinally within thev handle. y Y

7. A ile holder comprising a hollow support including a hand grip, a le secured at one end to the support, an endwise shiftable member connecting the support and the opposite end of the file, said `member including at onel end a screw device mounted within the support and an ar'- ticulated connection between said device andthe opposite end or the member, said connection being shiitable within said support. f

Y Y. *WILLIAM J. BROWN. 

